GB2532136A - Roof for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle - Google Patents

Roof for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2532136A
GB2532136A GB1518296.7A GB201518296A GB2532136A GB 2532136 A GB2532136 A GB 2532136A GB 201518296 A GB201518296 A GB 201518296A GB 2532136 A GB2532136 A GB 2532136A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
roof
vehicle
headliner
roof structure
driving unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1518296.7A
Other versions
GB201518296D0 (en
Inventor
Mohan Vinayaka
Viswanathan Girish
Krishnan Chinnaswamy Gopal
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mercedes Benz Group AG
Original Assignee
Daimler AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daimler AG filed Critical Daimler AG
Priority to GB1518296.7A priority Critical patent/GB2532136A/en
Publication of GB201518296D0 publication Critical patent/GB201518296D0/en
Publication of GB2532136A publication Critical patent/GB2532136A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
    • B60R13/0212—Roof or head liners
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
    • B60R13/0212—Roof or head liners
    • B60R13/0225—Roof or head liners self supporting head liners
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
    • B60R2013/0287—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners integrating other functions or accessories
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R2021/0002—Type of accident
    • B60R2021/0018—Roll-over
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R2021/003—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks characterised by occupant or pedestian
    • B60R2021/0039—Body parts of the occupant or pedestrian affected by the accident
    • B60R2021/0048—Head
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R2021/0206—Self-supporting restraint systems, e.g. restraining arms, plates or the like
    • B60R2021/0253—Self-supporting restraint systems, e.g. restraining arms, plates or the like mounted on roof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/04—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
    • B60R2021/0407—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings using gas or liquid as energy absorbing means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/04—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
    • B60R2021/0442—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings associated with the roof panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a roof 10 for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, the roof 10 comprising a roof structure 12 and at least one headliner 24 covering at least a portion of the roof structure 12 towards the interior 26 of the vehicle, wherein at least respective lateral edge regions 30 of the headliner 24 are attached to the roof structure at least indirectly, wherein the roof comprises a driving unit 34 configured to move, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, at least one intermediate region 36, 40 of the headliner 24 in relation to the roof structure 12 and the edge regions 30, the intermediate region 36, 40 being arranged between the edge regions 30.The driving unit may comprise a pneumatically operated piston and cylinder with a working chamber (48, fig 3), inside which is located a spring (50) for moving the headliner to an upper position. The invention is intended to provide additional space for tall occupants.

Description

Roof for a Vehicle, in particular a Passenger Vehicle The invention relates to a roof for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
Such a roof for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, is well-known from the general prior art. The roof comprises a roof structure and at least one headliner covering at least a portion of the roof structure towards the interior of the vehicle. The headliner has respective lateral edge regions which are attached to the roof structure at least indirectly.
US 6 102 436 shows an apparatus including a vehicle roof structure and a motorized deployment assembly. The roof structure includes a roof panel and a headliner which conceals the roof panel from view in a vehicle occupant compartment. The motorized deployment assembly is operatively engaged with the headliner, and is actuatable to move the headliner downward away from the roof panel to a deployed position in which the headliner can restrain movement of a vehicle occupant upward toward the roof panel. The apparatus further includes means for sensing and responding to a vehicle crash by actuating the motorized deployment assembly.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a roof of the aforementioned kind, by means of which a particularly high comfort for occupants of the vehicle can be realized in a particularly cost-effective manner.
This object is solved by a roof having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.
In order to provide a roof of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1, by means of which roof a particularly high comfort for occupants of the vehicle can be realized in a particularly cost-effective manner, according to the present invention the roof comprises a driving unit configured to move, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, at least one intermediate region of the headliner in relation to the roof structure and the edge regions, the intermediate region being arranged between the edge regions. This means the intermediate region of the headliner can be moved upwards and downwards in the vertical direction of the vehicle by means of the driving unit whilst the edge regions stay attached to the roof structure and, thus, keep their positions with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle.
In other words, the edge regions are not moved and do not move in the vertical direction of the vehicle when the intermediate region is moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle by means of the driving unit. By moving the headliner in the vertical direction of the vehicle in relation to the roof structure a head room in the interior of the vehicle can be adjusted in a need-based manner. For example, by moving the head liner upwards towards the roof structure the head room in the interior can be increased so that a particular high comfort for tall persons can be realized. In other words, by moving the headliner in relation to the roof structure additional space can be created for tall occupants. Since the edge regions can stay attached to the roof structure the headliner can be moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle in relation to the roof structure in a particularly cost-effective way. Moreover, the driving unit can be integrated into existing designs in a particularly cost-effective way.
Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.
The drawings show in: Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view of a roof for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, the roof comprising a roof structure, at least one headliner covering at least a portion of the roof structure towards the interior of the vehicle, and a driving unit configured to move, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, at least one intermediate region in relation to the roof structure and edge regions of the headliner; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of the headliner and the driving unit; and Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of the driving element of the driving unit.
In the figures the same elements or elements having the same functions are indicated by the same reference signs.
Fig. 1 shows, in a schematic sectional view, a roof 10 for a vehicle in the form of a passenger vehicle. The roof 10 comprises a roof structure 12 which is made of a metallic material. The roof structure 12 comprises lateral roof pillars 14 each having an inner shell 16 and an outer shell 18 connected to the respective inner shell 16. The respective roof pillar 14 is covered by a respective cladding part 20 connected to the respective roof pillar 14. Moreover, the roof structure 12 comprises a roof panel 22 being a roof cladding, the roof panel 22 being connected to the respective roof pillars 14.
The roof 10 further comprises at least one headliner 24 covering at least a portion of the roof structure 12 towards the interior 26 of the passenger vehicle. Moreover, heads 28 of occupants in the interior 26 can be seen in Fig. 1 partially. As can be seen from Fig. 1 the headliner 24 comprises respective lateral edge regions 30 which are attached to the roof structure 12 at least indirectly. In other words, the headliner 24 is attached to the roof structure 12 via said edge regions 30. For example, the edge regions 30 are attached to the roof structure 12, in particular the roof pillars 14, by means of fastening elements 32.
In order to realize a particularly high comfort for said occupants in a particularly cost-effective manner, the roof 10 comprises a driving unit 34 configured to move, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, at least one intermediate region 36 of the headliner 24 in relation to the roof structure 12 and the edge regions 30, wherein the intermediate region 36 is arranged between the edge regions 30. This means the intermediate region 36 can be moved upwards and downwards in the vertical direction of the vehicle in relation to the roof structure 12 by means of the driving unit 34, wherein the edge regions 30 stay attached to the roof structure 12 and keep their respective positions in the vertical direction of the vehicle when the intermediate region 36 is moved by the driving unit 34. Hence, the edge regions 30 do not move and are not moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle when the intermediate region 36 is moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle in relation to the roof structure 12.
By moving the intermediate region 36 upwards and downwards the headliner 24, in particular its position in the vertical direction of the vehicle, can be adjusted depending on, for example, the size of the occupants. Thus, an adaptive headliner adjustment can be realized so that additional space, in particular head space, can be created by moving the headliner 24 in the vertical direction of the vehicle upwards towards the roof structure 12.
As can be seen from Fig. 2, the driving unit 34 can comprise driving elements 38 configured to move or drive the headliner 24 in the vertical direction of the vehicle in relation to the roof structure 12. Two of said driving elements 38 are arranged in the intermediate region 36 so that the intermediate region 36 can be moved by said two driving elements 38. Moreover, two further driving elements 38 are arranged in a further intermediate region 40 of the headliner 24 so that the intermediate region 40 can also be moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle in relation to the roof structure 12.
For example, the roof structure 12, in particular the roof panel 22, is a part of the body in white of the vehicle, wherein the driving unit 34, in particular the respective driving element 38, can be connected to the body in white. In the present case the respective driving element 38 is connected to the roof panel 22 as will be described in the following in greater detail. Moreover, the respective driving element 38 is connected to the headliner 24 so that the headliner 24 can be moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle in relation to the roof panel 22 by means of the driving elements 38.
Fig. 3 shows one of the driving elements 38 in a schematic sectional view. As will be described in the following in greater detail, the driving unit 34 is configured as a pneumatically operated driving unit. The respective driving element 38 comprises at least one cylinder 42 which is also referred to as a vacuum cylinder. Moreover, the driving element 38 comprises a piston 44 which is also referred to as a housing. As can be seen from Fig. 3, at least a portion of the piston 44 is arranged in the cylinder 42, wherein the piston 44 is translationally moveable in relation to the cylinder 42. In the present case the cylinder 42 is glued to the headliner 24 by means of an adhesive film 46 arranged between the cylinder 42 and the headliner 24.
Moreover, the respective driving element 38 has a working chamber 48 bounded by the cylinder 42 and the piston 44. For example, the working chamber 48 is a vacuum chamber. The driving element 38 further comprises a position holder in the form of a spring element 50 connected to the cylinder 42 and the piston 44. The spring element 50 is arranged in the working chamber 48. Furthermore, the driving element 38 comprises a sealing element 52 by means of which the piston 44 is sealed against the cylinder 42. The piston 44 is attached to the roof panel 22 and, thus, the body in white of the vehicle. Thus, the headliner 24 can be moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle in relation to the roof panel 22 by translationally moving the piston 44 in relation to the cylinder 42 or vice versa. The driving unit 34 further comprises at least one pneumatic line 54 having at least one duct through which a fluid in the form of a gas, in particular air, can flow. Said duct of the pneumatic line 54 is fluidically connected to the working chamber 48 so that air flowing through said duct can flow out of said duct and into the working chamber 48. Thus, air can be fed into the working chamber 48 by means of the pneumatic line 54. Moreover, air contained in the working chamber 48 can be discharged out of the working chamber 48. For example, air contained in the working chamber 48 can flow out of the working chamber 48 and into said duct of the pneumatic line 54 so that air contained in the working chamber 48 can be discharged out of the working chamber 48 by means of the pneumatic line 54.
In the present case, the headliner 24 can be moved away from the roof panel 22 and, thus, downwards in the vertical direction of the vehicle by feeding air into the working chamber 48 by means of the pneumatic line 54. By feeding air into the working chamber 48 the volume of the working chamber 48 increases thereby moving the headliner 24 away from the roof panel 22. Thereby, a first wall 56 of the cylinder 42 is translationally moved away from a second wall 58 of the piston 44. Since the spring element 50 is connected to the walls 56 and 58 the spring element 50 is loaded when moving the cylinder 42 and, thus, the headliner 24 away from the roof panel 22 and, thus, the piston 44. By loading the spring element 50 it provides a spring force acting upon the cylinder 42 and the piston 44. By moving the headliner 24 away from the roof panel 22 the headliner 24 is moved in a lower position in which the spring element 50 is loaded. The headliner 24 is held in said lower position against said spring force by means of the air contained in the working chamber 48. Thus, the spring element 50 cannot relax.
In order to move the headliner 24 towards the roof panel 22 thereby moving the headliner 24 out of the lower position into an upper position at least a portion of the air contained in the working chamber 48 is discharged out of the working chamber 48. Thus, the spring element 50 can relax at least partially so that the cylinder 42 and, thus, the headliner 24 are moved towards the piston 44 and, thus, the roof panel 22 by means of said spring force exerted on the cylinder 42 and the piston 44 by means of the spring element 50. Thus, a particularly cost-effective adjustment of the headliner 24 can be realized. By moving the headliner 24 towards the roof panel 22 a headroom in the interior can be increased.
In Fig. 3 a directional arrow 60 illustrates a moving direction in which the headliner 24 is moved when the headliner 24 is moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle upwards and, thus, towards the roof panel 22. Moreover, said lower position is indicated by L in Fig. 4, wherein said upper position of the headliner 24 is indicated by U in Fig. 3. For example, in order to discharge the air out of the working chamber 48 a vacuum in the working chamber 48 is created by the pneumatic line 54. Moreover, since the driving unit 34 is arranged between the roof panel 22 and the headliner 24 the occupants in the interior 26 cannot see the driving unit 34. By moving the headliner 24 in the vertical direction of the vehicle in relation to the roof structure 12 additional space can be created for tall occupants thereby providing additional comfort for tall occupants.
List of reference signs roof 12 roof structure 14 roof pillar 16 inner shell 18 outer shell cladding part 22 roof panel 24 headliner 26 interior 28 head edge region 32 fastening element 34 driving unit 36 intermediate region 38 driving element intermediate region 42 cylinder 44 piston 46 adhesive film 48 working chamber spring element 52 sealing element 54 pneumatic line 56 wall 58 wall directional arrow L lower position U upper position

Claims (6)

  1. Claims 1. A roof (10) for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, the roof (10) comprising: a roof structure (12); and -at least one headliner (24) covering at least a portion of the roof structure (12) towards the interior (26) of the vehicle, wherein at least respective lateral edge regions (30) of the headliner (24) are attached to the roof structure (12) at least indirectly; characterized in that the roof (10) comprises a driving unit (34) configured to move, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, at least one intermediate region (36, 40) of the headliner (24) in relation to the roof structure (12) and the edge regions (30), the intermediate region (36, 40) being arranged between the edge regions (30).
  2. 2. The roof (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving unit (34) is configured as a pneumatically operated driving unit (34).
  3. 3. The roof (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the driving unit (34) comprises at least one cylinder (42), at least one piston (44), and at least one working chamber (48) bounded by the cylinder (42) and the piston (44), wherein the piston (44) is movable in relation to the cylinder (42) by feeding a fluid into the working chamber (48) thereby moving the headliner (24) in relation to the roof structure (12).
  4. 4. The roof (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driving unit (34) comprises at least one spring element (50) configured to move the headliner (24).
  5. 5. The roof (10) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the spring element (50) is arranged in the working chamber (48).
  6. 6. A vehicle comprising at least one roof (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.
GB1518296.7A 2015-10-16 2015-10-16 Roof for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle Withdrawn GB2532136A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1518296.7A GB2532136A (en) 2015-10-16 2015-10-16 Roof for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1518296.7A GB2532136A (en) 2015-10-16 2015-10-16 Roof for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201518296D0 GB201518296D0 (en) 2015-12-02
GB2532136A true GB2532136A (en) 2016-05-11

Family

ID=55131113

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1518296.7A Withdrawn GB2532136A (en) 2015-10-16 2015-10-16 Roof for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2532136A (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030197354A1 (en) * 2002-04-18 2003-10-23 Johnson Controls Technology Company Inflatable headliner system
US20080143146A1 (en) * 2006-12-13 2008-06-19 Abdulaziz Alagil Automobile Roof Shock Absorbing System

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030197354A1 (en) * 2002-04-18 2003-10-23 Johnson Controls Technology Company Inflatable headliner system
US20080143146A1 (en) * 2006-12-13 2008-06-19 Abdulaziz Alagil Automobile Roof Shock Absorbing System

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201518296D0 (en) 2015-12-02

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Legal Events

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)